Radial band wedge impact driving device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12168285-B2
Application number	US-202217749955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2022
Priority date	Mar 18, 2020
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

Abstract

A torque transfer assembly for a bit holder includes an axial movement limiting subassembly and a rotation limiting subassembly. The axial movement limiting subassembly is configured to retain a drive body of the bit holder in proximity to a driven body of the bit holder. The rotation limiting subassembly is configured to cause torque applied to the drive body to be transferred to the driven body. The rotation limiting subassembly includes a first cam body at a distal end of the drive body and a second cam body at a distal end of the driven body. The first and second cam bodies are configured to transfer a majority of the torque between the drive body and the driven body indirectly via the torque transfer assembly by limiting rotation of the first cam body relative to the second cam body.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. An impact bit holder comprising:
a drive body having a drive end configured to interface with an impact driver, the drive body comprising a first cam body;
a driven body having a driven end configured to interface with a bit, the driven body comprising a second cam body, wherein the drive body may rotate relative to the driven body; and
a torque transfer assembly disposed proximate to the first and second cam bodies, the torque transfer assembly comprising an elastic member having a first resistance equal to a force needed to expand the elastic member a preset distance;
wherein the drive body and driven body rotate together when a torque applied to the drive body is less than the first resistance;
wherein the drive body and driven body do not rotate together when the torque applied to the drive body is equal to or greater than the first resistance;
wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises a first radial member and a second radial member,
wherein the first and second radial members define a wedge channel therebetween;
wherein the first and second radial members define cam surfaces proximate to the wedge channel, the cam surfaces interfacing with the first and second cam bodies to transfer a torque applied to the drive body from the first cam body to the second cam body via the cam surfaces;
wherein the elastic member resists radial outward movement of the first and second radial members to prevent the first and second radial members from moving radial outward when the torque applied to the drive body is less than the first resistance, but permit the first and second radial members to move radially outward when the toque applied to the drive body is equal to or greater than the first resistance.

2. The impact bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the torque transfer assembly comprises a wedge channel, and
wherein the first and second cam bodies interface with the wedge channel to transfer torque from the first cam body to the second cam body.

3. The impact bit holder of claim 2 , wherein the first and second cam bodies comprise first and second wedges, respectively.

4. The impact bit holder of claim 3 , wherein the first wedge comprises a projection,
wherein the second wedge comprises a recess, and
wherein the projection is received in the recess to axially align the drive body and the driven body and enable rotation of the drive body relative to the driven body.

5. The impact bit holder of claim 1 ,
wherein the first and second radial members combine to form a substantially cylindrical shape.

6. The impact bit holder of claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises a split dowel disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members.

7. The impact bit holder of claim 6 , wherein the elastic member further comprises a pair of limiter bands disposed at opposing longitudinal ends of the split dowel.

8. The impact bit holder of claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises a plurality of rings disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members.

9. The impact bit holder of claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises a shell disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members.

10. The impact bit holder of claim 9 , wherein the shell is configured to engage the drive member and the driven member to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other.

11. The impact bit holder of claim 5 , wherein the first cam body comprises a first axial retainer, and the second cam body comprises a second axial retainer, and
wherein the first and second axial retainers interface with the first and second radial members to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other.

12. The impact bit holder of claim 11 , wherein the first and second radial members each include an annular projection configured to be inserted into an annular groove disposed at each of the first and second axial retainers of each of the drive body and the driven body, respectively.

13. The impact bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is metallic.

14. The impact bit holder of claim 1 , wherein the first cam body causes the torque transfer assembly to deform in shape, against a resistance force of the elastic member, when the torque applied to the drive body is equal to or greater than the first resistance.

15. A driving tool comprising:
a drive body comprising a first cam body;
a driven body comprising a second cam body; and
a rotational movement limiting subassembly comprising an elastic member, wherein the elastic member is operably coupled to the first cam body and the second cam body to affect rotational movement of the drive body relative to the driven body along a longitudinal axis of the driving tool;
wherein the elastic member is configured to permit a transfer of rotation from the drive body to the driven body such that the drive body and the drive body rotate together when a torque applied to the drive body is less than a preset amount;
wherein the elastic member is configured to inhibit the transfer of rotation from the drive body to the driven body such that the driven body does not rotate with the drive body when the torque applied to the drive body is equal to or greater than the preset amount;
wherein the rotational movement limiting subassembly comprises a first radial member;
wherein the first radial member defines a wedge channel;
wherein the first radial member is part of the rotation limiting subassembly and defines cam surfaces proximate to the wedge channel, the cam surfaces interfacing with the first and second cam bodies to transfer torque from the first body to the second cam body via the cam surfaces.

16. The driving tool of claim 15 ,
wherein the first radial member is substantially cylindrical in shape.

17. The driving tool of claim 16 , wherein the elastic member is metallic.

18. The driving tool of claim 17 , wherein the elastic member comprises a split dowel disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first radial member, and the elastic member further comprises a pair of limiter bands disposed at opposing longitudinal ends of the split dowel, or
wherein the elastic member comprises a plurality of rings disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members, or
wherein the elastic member comprises a shell disposed to extend around an outer periphery of the first and second radial members, the shell being configured to engage the drive member and the driven member to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other.

19. The driving tool of claim 16 , wherein the first cam body comprises a first axial retainer, and the second cam body comprises a second axial retainer, the first and second axial retainers each being part of the axial movement limiting subassembly,
wherein the first axial retainers interfaces with the first radial member to prevent axial movement of the drive body and driven body relative to each other, wherein the first radial member includes an annular projection configured to be inserted into an annular groove disposed at one of the first and second axial retainers of each of the drive body and the driven body, respectively, and wherein the first and second cam bodies comprise first and second wedges, respectively.

20. The driving tool of claim 19 , wherein the first wedge comprises a projection,
wherein the second wedge comprises

Assignees

• Apex Brands Inc

Inventors

• Fairchild Adam D
• Neubauer Kyle M

Classifications

• F16D3/74

  the intermediate member or members being made of rubber or other {rubber-like} flexible material · CPC title

• B23B45/005

  Flexible shafts · CPC title

• B25B23/00

  Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers (bolt tensioners B25B29/02) · CPC title

• B25B23/14

  Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers (couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L) · CPC title

• B25B21/007

  Attachments for drilling apparatus for screw or nut setting or loosening · CPC title